Convolute pressure-bearing.



N5. 737,154. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

R. c. SAYBR.

GONVOLUTE PRESSURE BEARING..

APPLICATION FILED um. 15. 1902. N0 MODEL. a sums-sum 1.

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PATENTED AUG, 25, 1903. I R. C. SAYER.

CONVOLUTE PRESSURE BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1902.

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PATBNTED AUG. 25. 1903.

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No. 737,154. g I V U ITED STATES I Fatented August 1903.

"PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT COOKE S'AYER, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND.

CQNVOLUTE PRESSURE-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,154, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed September 15, 1902. Serial lid-128,545. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT CooKE SAYER, asubject of the Kingof GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at'll Clyde road, Redland,Bris'- tol, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in C-onvolute Pressure- Bearings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to utilize fluid-pressure as an adjustable elastic bearing for weights or loads; and it essentially consists of open or closed convolute, spiral, or corrugated vessels, able by thefregulation of the pressure within them to have their forms, shapes, or positions altered to suit varying circumstances.

Figure 1 is an elevation at A A, Fig.. 3, showing the invention adapted for elevating the human body; 'Fig. 2, the same when contracted; Fig. 3, an elevation at B B, Fig. 1; Fig. 4:, the same when contracted; Fig. 5, a sectional plan at O C O C, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a detail in sectional elevation'of Fig. l, haying an auxiliary vessel; Fig. '7, a section at D D,

Fig. 9, of a vessel adapted for the feet of bi v H H, Fig. 11; Fig. 12, in part the same, showing in detail a larger wheel; Fig. 13, a sectional elevation showing the invention typic ally for other shapes; Fig. 14., in part a section on line J J, Fig. 15, showing a vessel adapted as a spiral tire of a wheel; Fig. 15, in part a plan of Fig. 14,showing the tire at its greatest extension developed; Fig. 16, in part a sectional elevation at K K, Fig. 14:; Fig. 17, a section at L L, Fig-l4; Fig. 18, a section at M M, Fig. 19. Fig. 19 is a section at N N, Fig. 18; Fig. 20, in part a sectional elevation of a straight-tire vessel having its convolutions inside; Fig. 21, a section at O 0, Fig. 20, developed.

The drawings illustrate the invention typically, similar parts being shown by similar lettors.

The convolute, spiral,'or oorrugated vessel a when closed is shaped as or provided with auxiliary vessels 1), Figs. 6 and 13, where b is formedin double spirals or is single, Figs.

.Fig.-.13, Where the top has been reduced to -.a and the bottom to a, or the pressure against the surfaces in contact is modified, as shown by Figs. 7 to 10, to ease the bearings ofanimals and, Figs. 15 and 20, to slacken the pressurein a to give ease in the alterations of its spirals or folds.

When the vessel 0. is open, increased load drives atmospheric air out of it and reduced load allows the pressure to reexpand it, the

extent of the opening being regulated by a known means-say a tapering or wedgeshaped aperture closed more or less by a screwed nut attached similarly to the union e Figs. 3 and 5, as follows below. The pressures used are various, as required, and forstructu res in compression, liquid, or when lightness is required the vessela receives gaseous pressure and its auxiliaries b liquid. The vessel a andalso b, when required, receive free elastic dust, granules, pellets, or flakes (not shown) that will not pass the pump-valves that exhaust them to prevent leakage should a puncture occur.

Figs. 1 to 6 show the adaptation of the vessel a, to raise the human body when formed as a screw, or it is corrugated annularly-with or without auxiliaries b, Fig. 6,secured to soles d and d by plates 0 andrivets c hinged at (1 and provided with pipes e, connecting the vessels or and unions 6 at which to attach a pump to charge or create a vacuum in a. They are secured by strings e or otherwise. For the normal wear of bipeds or quadrupeds, Figs. 7 to 10, the vessel or is a single tube formed into several layers of coils retained in position by diaphragm-ties a and elastic blocks a to fill spaces for the foot to bear on,

'12, 14,where'the -vessel-a forms the dia- 'phragm of a wheelz, or in groups, Figs. 1' to 10, where thevesselo is an open or closed as shown, but without a when one layer only of tube is used which is wholly or in part secured to the sole. When required, auxiliary coils b or tubes (not shown) are used above and at the side of the foot and a and b are inclosed, as shown, or partly open.

Figs. 11, 12, and 12 show an adaptation of the vessel a as the diaphragm of a wheel a. It is corrugated, Fig. 12, as shown, annularly and carries one (as shown) or more straight tires of any description; but when it is required for the tire a of the wheel 2 to be much reduced or enlarged it is corrugated annularly and also radially, and when at a minimum radius at the periphery the corrugations are bridged by the tire a and -at the center the diaphragm-walls of a are made to traverse the axle f, as follows.

Figs. 14 to 21 show a modification of the vessel a as a spiral tire of a wheel z, which is carried by any means able to retain it in position either straight or, as shown, Fig. 15, in a spiral position, and able to contract the wheel to smaller radii and increase the width of the tire foldings, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. let, for which the vessel a is carried by spring-serrated plates 9, secured together and to the tire a by rivets g and carried on swivels h, hinged at h to rods j, which are hinged at j to collars 7c, able to slide on the axle f, which is carried in bearingsf When traversed, by turning a pinion Z to rotate a screw-shaft Z within the axle f to traverse the screw-nuts Z and l the bolts 70 in the slots 72 and the collars 7c, Z and Z are kept from turning by the straps m and m secured to the bearings f When the tire vessel Ct is required to be straight in plan at all times and not a spiral exteriorly, it is convoluted or folded inside, Figs. 20 and 21, and,

as above, carried on the plates g, that the length of the straight tire (t and its plates 9 may be varied by the parts, and their actions described above, g, are formed in several lengths, g having slots g" and connected by bolts g and g having bolt ends g to pass through the slots g and connect 9 and g and slots g for the bolts g and thereby telescope or sandwich the plates g g and the tube a to slide on one another. a is secured each side by wires or straps a and rivets a to 9 and elastic friction-ring rollers 0 and 0 inserted through an opening 29 case the foldmg.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A vessel or tube having convolutions, spirals or corrugations that render it expandible and contractible, a means to regulate the extent of the opening and thereby the pressure in the vessel, and a means for holding the vessel in contact with its bearing-surfaces for carrying light loads.

2. A vessel or tube having convolutions, spirals or corrugations that render it expandible and contractible and a means of pumping more or less fluid-pressure into it, or exhausting atmospheric pressure from it to expand or contract its walls, and the amount of its convolutions, spirals or corrugations, and a means for holding the vessel in contact with its bearing-surfaces for carrying heavy loads.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT COOKE SAYER.

Witnesses:

LIONEL A. WILSON, CHARLES E. RICKETTS. 

